Corey Maggette Will Be ‘Focal Point’ of Bobcats Offense

Rejoice, Bobcats fans! Corey Maggette has been granted a license to shoot as many times as his heart desires. Oy. From the Charlotte Observer: “That was the word Wednesday from Bobcats coach Paul Silas, in his first public comments since the NBA and the players worked out a tentative labor deal. Silas said Maggette, a 12-season veteran, will be essential to filling the scoring gap left by the departures of Stephen Jackson and Gerald Wallace. ‘Corey has got to come through. He can be a 20-point scorer. He’s going to be the focal point of our offense,’ Silas described. ‘We’re going to rely on him to get it done for us, and he can.’ Maggette, a former Duke star, came to Charlotte in a draft-night trade involving the Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings. That deal acquired the lottery pick that became Bismack Biyombo. To make that transaction, the Bobcats had to give up Jackson (an 18.5 ppg. scorer) and reserve point guard Shaun Livingston. The Bobcats also had to accept the remaining $20 million-plus on Maggette’s contract. Maggette averaged 12 points last season for the Bucks, his lowest scoring output in 10 seasons. He fell out of Milwaukee’s rotation the last third of the season and was often asked to play out of position at power forward. That’s far removed from Maggette’s prime as a Los Angeles Clipper, when averaged 20 or more points in three seasons. Immediately following the late-June trade, Silas told Maggette he’d be penciled in as the Bobcats’ starting small forward. It’s clear Silas has set out to restore Maggette’s confidence.”